Though the March Hare is about to leave us on the last day of this very month, you need not worry because the April Fool has arrived a day early and is here with a brand spanking new Outlet Report. So take a break from hunting for Easter Eggs at Epcot, put aside your souvenir […]

Prepare yourself for a trip to not just one, but BOTH Disney Outlet Stores in Orlando (physical addresses for both are located at the end of every edition of MM&M.) That’s right Dear Reader, I did the impossible and braved the I-4 traffic and horrendous parking situations at both outlets, for YOU.

Enough jibber jabber! Who is ready to hit the Outlets? Remember that clicking on any picture will open a full size version of it (don’t say we didn’t warn you).

Our first stop is the Disney Outlet closer to Universal at the end of I-Drive and was surprised to see the first ever Tsum Tsums show up. I’ve seen them before at Once Upon a Toy in Downtown Disney, but never felt compelled to buy one at $6 a pop. That said, unlike Vinylmation, I can definitely see the cuteness factor and why people would want to collect them. The only Tsum Tsums available were the seven dwarfs and only the ones pictured below. Of course I bought them all.

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Next up though is something I don’t understand at all. Gigantic Tsum Tsums. The whole selling point of Tsum Tsums is that they are small, cute, and collectible. Making them giant is like when you stretch out a low quality cell phone picture. Originally $29.95 these were marked down to $19.99.

There are days as a Universal fan I feel frustrated that Universal Creative and the marketing team have to deal with JK Rowling and Matt Groening with their iron fist control on anything related to Harry Potter and the Simpsons. Every little detail has to micro-managed and approved. But as crazy as it is to have to remove a gigantic police car in Springfield USA just to slightly change the paint scheme, at least we don’t end up seeing stuff like Yoda Duffy. Originally $25, now $9.99.

And you thought the prequels were bad.

Speaking of Duffy, this Minnie Mouse-with-Duffy was the only one available. Originally $16.95, now $8.99. Apparently this was a Valentine’s Day version, as I know they also had a Christmas version of the exact same pairing.

And speaking of Valentine’s Day, or possibly 4:20, this Mickey Mouse plush has made its way to the Outlets..

For those of you like me who have never heard of a pajama pillow, they have a place in the pack where you can slide pajamas into.

I actually ran into this hat first and had no idea who is was supposed to be. It wasn’t until I saw the pillow that I realized it was for Expedition Everest’s Yeti. Originally $29.95, now $9.99

I’m not sure how comfortable this pillow would actually be.

When I stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge recently, one of the things I couldn’t believe was how great their gift shop was. Much better than any Disney resort I had ever been to. One of the things I was considering getting was this hat which had a bunch of cool Animal Kingdom pins on it. The hat was $39.95 in the store, but it was marked down to $14.99.

I didn’t buy it because I couldn’t understand how the large backs of Disney pins wouldn’t be pressing into your head. Maybe as a city slicker I just don’t know how to wear these types of hats. I should go down to that fancy hat store Chapel in Downtown Disney and get fitted. It would be like a theme park blogger version of the scene from Pretty Woman, except in my version I have come back the next day with a Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster hat from the Outlets and admit I couldn’t have afforded anything in Chapel.

HOW DO THESE NOT PRESS INTO OUR HEAD LIKE SOME SORT OF TORTURE DEVICE?!

This thing was so gigantic I was surprised to see it was a gift card holder. Do people outside of Golden Oaks actually present gift cards in this way? Mine usually come taped to a birthday card. Originally $8.95, now $3.99.

This Walt Disney-with-Mickey magnet was also originally $8.95, now $3.99.

Here’s a Mickey’s Kitchen clock magnet. Originally $12.94, now $4.99. I didn’t buy it, but it gave me hope that the kitchen timer that is themed to a Stand-By Entrance clock will one day make it here.

Mickey Waffle and Candy Apple air fresheners. Originally $5.95, now $1.99.

Orange bird and Valentine’s Day antenna toppers.

This Sally Head antenna topper looks like it would be on the car of that kid Sid from the first Toy Story when he grows up.

Olaf pens!

More Frozen related merchandise showing up each trip, including this Elsa shirt.

And these Anna dolls.

These Elsa mugs were pretty sharp, although I’m not too sure how many kids drink coffee. Probably the same ones wearing those “sexy” Tinker Bell shirts. All mugs are reduced to $5.99

Here’s a sharp looking Animal Kingdom mug for my boys at Radio Harambe.

Now, I’m not a coffee drinker, but I don’t understand why you would put anything with ink inside a cup that would be containing hot liquid. A lot of Disney coffee mugs have characters or words on the insides of the mug. This is not normal in the coffee mug industry though, is it? I mean the ink has to come off because eventually it wears off the outside of our regular coffee mugs from just rewashing them. I don’t even know why I waste so much time in my life thinking about stuff like this.

This Mickey Mouse sippy cup terrified me. It actually reminded me of the scene at end of the Blair Witch Project. Originally $6.95, now $1.99.

Meanwhile this Pixar rocket cup was pretty cool. I bought a couple for the young boys in our family.

DREAMS DO COME TRUE. Before Christmas I was dying to get this retro Cookies and Milk For Santa set, but was scared off at the price of almost $25 for one mug and one plate. Now it has been reduced to $12.99. Bought it.

Did not buy these gigantic Mickey nutcrackers. Originally $99.95, now $39.99.

These rocking horse nutcrackers were originally $69.95 each, now $24.99. I’m not even sure how low the price would have to be for me to even consider buying one.

I thought this Alice in Wonderland thing was a ponytail holder, but apparently its a “blending sponge.” This is why I’m not allowed to shop for our household needs. Originally $19.95, now $7.99

Haunted Mansion eye shadow. Yes, this exists.

I’m not sure if the girl with “Tomb Sweet Tomb” eye shadow is the one you want to marry, but it’s definitely the one you want to be with when the clock strikes midnight. Sorry Cinderella.

This Walt Disney ’71 hat (although it looks an awful lot like ’77” was originally $21.95, now $7.99.

This Marie carrying case was the value of the day. Originally $34.95, it was reduced to $9.99 and had a ton of artistic stuff inside, like colored pencils, rulers, etc. There are five separate compartments of stuff.

Alice in Wonderland mini-snowglobe. Originally $8.95, now $3.99. Has any industry been hit harder by the TSA restrictions at the airport more than the snowglobe industry?

This giant Winnie the Pooh was originally $32.95, now $19.99.

This next level bananas Winnie the Pooh shirt was originally $29.95, now $12.99.

Maybe it’s a test for a live action Pooh reboot? Like the upcoming Bambi film starring The Rock.

At the time, my favorite score of all was seeing these Tower of Terror bells. Originally $7.95 each, these were reduced to $3.99. As a person who uses a bell in my theme park podcast Pardon the Pixie Dust, this made my day. You’ll have to listen to the podcasts to hear how well these bells worked….

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That’s it for the I-Drive location, let’s head down I-4 and up SR535 to the Vineland outlets. And don’t kid yourself. Frodo and Sam had an easier time getting to Mordor than I did trying to get to Orlando’s two Character Warehouse stores.

Behind the counters of both stores there is usually a piece of really cool marketing for the parks. I’ve shown pictures of the incredible Festival of Fantasy canvas they have had in the past, and I’m really digging this Flower and Garden set-up.

Minnie Mouse “Fierce” Plush. Whaaaaaaat?!

I couldn’t believe it! My favorite Disney Tagalongs made it to the Outlet. How great is this Angel Donald and Devil Donald?! Originally $12.95, now $8.99

When Tagalongs were first introduced, I had doubted the magnet technology could work. So I conducted a special Derek Burgan Investigation at Disney’s Contemporary Resort and proved once and for all if these Tagalongs do what they say they do….

Tsum Tsums were also avaiable at this location. As you can see in the photo, the large Tsum Tsums are to the left and you see the Alien pajama pillows in the background. A lot of stuff was similar at both stores.

This Tower of Terror magnet could barely hang on, and they were all like this. Not sure original price, but it’s reduced to $1.99. This would fall on the floor each and every time you opened your fridge.

Last month we saw the giant Cars Land eraser make its way to the Outlets and SURPRISE, SURPRISE, more of these ridiculous things have arrived including Tinker Bell and Ariel. Let the record show that when I first saw these at Downtown Disney I predicted they would be a flop. Originally $9.95, now $5.99, and I would do anything for someone from Disney Consumer Products to write and tell us who the market was for these erasers.

This picture does not get across how HUGE this cargo plane is. It stores 12 of the regular Disney Planes toys. It reminded me of the GI Joe Aircraft Carrier or the giant Star Wars AT-AT that my parents wouldn’t buy me back in the day. Originally $55.95, now $29.99.

Here is a play-set based on the Time Travel Mater short. This set of the three characters originally cost $44.95 and is reduced to $29.95, the same price as the giant plane above. I can tell you that any kid in country would choose that plane over this car set each and every single time.

I liked these princess magnets (originally $9.95, now $3.99) and the Little Mermaid erasers (originally $4.95, now $1.99)

Also loved these Pirates of the Caribbean Activity Sets. Bought a couple for the boys in my family.

This Lady and the Tramp statue is REDUCED TO $70.99. I have absolutely no idea what it could have been sold at originally. Maybe it was in the gift shop of the Four Seasons hotel.

Enjoyed this Donald Duck shirt for kids. Although anyone who follows me on Twitter knows how much I like ducks in general, so I may be biased on this one. Originally $19.95, now $9.99.

I’m gonna have to watch this Disney Fairies cartoons. How do they portray Tinker Bell in them because she seems like a very unlikeable character on most of her merchandise. This shirt was originally $32.95, now $14.99

Keep in mind these shirts are made for young girls.

A Nightmare Before Christmas shirt with a “hidden Mickey” Wreath. Season’s Screamings. Originally $24.95, now $9.99

I kinda like this Lightning McQueen shirt. Originally $24.99, now $7.95

This sweater was originally $54.95, reduced to $12.99.

Golfing Mickey hat and t-shirt combo was originally $39.95, now $19.99. Not a bad deal at all.

Disney Cruise Line Vinylmation. $3.99 each.

This Park Starz variant was originally $29.95, reduced to $6.99. A whole bunch of the various variants for Park Starz variants have made it to the Outlets. I’m not sure if Disney took a bath on them, or actually made money, because the original prices were so extremely high.

The Siamese cats from The Aristocats Lady & the Tramp (see comments below), now $5.99

I like this Mickey and Minnie tote bag. Reminds me of the older Archie comic books.

Looking for a Mickey Mouse bird feeder? Actually this may be a bird bath. Who knows.

Remember those $99.95 Mickey nutcrackers at the other store. Here is a $139.95 one AFTER BEING REDUCED. We can’t top that, so it’s time to go…

There are actually two Disney outlet stores in Orlando. Both are in Orlando Premium Outlet shopping complexes, and they are called Disney’s Character Warehouse, presumably because The Land Of Misfit Toys was already trademarked. There is one Character Warehouse located on International Drive close to Universal Studios (4951 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32819), and the other is on Vineland Avenue, right across I-4 near the exits to Disney World (8200 Vineland Ave, Orlando, FL 32821). For this edition of MMM, we went to the location near Universal.

There were more bad magnets, but I just don’t have the strength. Maybe next time.

I get a lot of questions about this, so we’ll answer them here. You can order any item from the Disney Outlet Stores by calling the WDW Merchandise Guest Services (877-560-6477) There is a catch though, if the item is still available they will charge you full retail price for it, plus shipping. The Outlet Stores themselves do not ship merchandise.

Have a Happy Easter everyone. For me it’s already good because this week my beloved Wimpy’s was revealed to be open. That’s right, it rose from the dead. And now I have hope that the NASCAR Sports Grille just may come back after all.

Have you ever wanted to take advantage of Disney Cruise Line’s onboard cruise booking benefit (reduced deposit required, 10% off your fare, an onboard credit from DCL, the joy of knowing your next cruise is already lined up), but didn’t quite know which cruise you wanted to take? The previous solution to this problem was […]

Have you ever wanted to take advantage of Disney Cruise Line’s onboard cruise booking benefit (reduced deposit required, 10% off your fare, an onboard credit from DCL, the joy of knowing your next cruise is already lined up), but didn’t quite know which cruise you wanted to take?

The previous solution to this problem was a work-around – guests would book a specific cruise and then change the dates as they figured out what actual cruise worked best for them. Now, Disney Cruise Line is allowing guests to put down a deposit to simply hold the benefit without tying up inventory that won’t be used.

In Disney’s words:

Effective immediately, Guests sailing with Disney Cruise Line can take advantage of the onboard offer without selecting an actual sailing date.

This new placeholder process allows your Clients to book the onboard offer without booking a reservation for a specific sail date. The confirmation will include a confirmation number, but will not display details such as ship name, sail date or category. Once your Client decides on an actual sail date, you can reference the confirmation number when you call back to modify the booking.

Please note while this is a new process for confirming placeholder date reservations, there are no other changes to the current onboard offer policies, including the number of bookings allowed or the need to complete travel within 24 months from the date the reservation is booked.

Disney World is my favorite place on earth and I love to visit as much as I can. There’s plenty to do with four theme parks, two water parks, a shopping district, and a number of incredibly themed resorts; but this Disney World Regular has her eye set on another Disney vacation for her next trip: […]

Disney World is my favorite place on earth and I love to visit as much as I can. There’s plenty to do with four theme parks, two water parks, a shopping district, and a number of incredibly themed resorts; but this Disney World Regular has her eye set on another Disney vacation for her next trip: a Disney Cruise! I have wanted to experience the Disney Cruise Line for years; but I must admit, I’m not much of a beach person and when having to choose between Disney World and a Disney Cruise, Disney World has always won out. But lately, I’ve learned a lot more about the Disney Cruise Line and have actually booked my first Disney Cruise on the Disney Dream for this summer! So keep reading to find out why this Disney World Regular wants to go on a Disney Cruise.

Castaway Cay (Photo Courtesy of www.disneyworldenthusiast.com)

To Visit Castaway Cay: For anyone who knows about Castaway Cay, this should be an easy one. I mean, it’s Disney’s own private island! Who wouldn’t want to go there? The Disney Cruise Line ships are able to pull right up to the island and enjoy designated beaches: the Family Beach, Serenity Bay Beach for adults, and even a beach area reserved just for teens. There are characters, places to eat, shops, water play areas, and the chance to experience Port Adventures, otherwise known as excursions. Just a few things to do on Castaway Cay include biking, glass bottom boats, snorkeling, parasailing, and even the chance to run the Castaway Cay 5-K. Basically, Castaway Cay sounds like a real life Neverland where there’s something for everyone and every preference, but all with the Disney touch. Want to know more? Check out how to have the perfect day at Castaway Cay.

Animators Palate (Photo by Laurel Stewart)

To Experience Disney Cruise Line Dining: One of the best things about cruises is that your food is included, so there’s no bill at the end of a meal and you can have as much as you want. But Disney goes a step above, as that is the Disney way, with incredibly themed restaurants, buffets, quick-service spots for a snack or quick meal on the go, and Adult Exclusive Dining with incredible menus and culinary creations. As a Disney World Regular, I want to dine at Animator’s Palate. Each Disney Cruise Line Ship has an Animator’s Palate Restaurant where guests can enjoy features such as the dining room turning from black and white to color, your own artwork coming to life, or even Crush from Pixar’s Finding Nemo dropping by to chat! I also want to experience Disney Cruise Line’s Rotational Dining. This system allows guests to visit different restaurants aboard ship during their cruise, but still keep their same servers.

One of our favorite things on the Dream – the Aquaduck. (Photo by Laurel Stewart)

To Ride the AquaDuck: Okay, so get this. The Disney Dream and Fantasy both have something totally unique to cruise ships: a water coaster! That would be cool enough, but it gets better. The water coaster, known as the AquaDuck, is clear and extends over the side of the ship. This means you can see the ocean below as you zip along! Disney World has a number of incredible slides at their resorts and at both Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach, but the AquaDuck is something totally unique and this Disney World Regular can’t wait to try it out! Just so you know, the AquaDuck is for both adults and children but they must be at least 42″ or taller and kids under 7 must ride with someone 14 years or older.

To Take in the Live Shows: I love live shows, such as Hollywood Studios’ Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage and the Cinderella Castle Show at the Magic Kingdom, but Disney Cruise Line offers live, Broadway-style shows every evening. These shows are all about Disney characters and their stories, but are totally unique. A few shows that are currently running on board the ships are the Villains Tonight, a comedy revue starring Disney villains; The Golden Mickeys, a Disney-style awards show; and Twice-Charmed: An Original Twist on the Cinderella Story. Don’t feel like heading to the theater? You can also watch the shows on your stateroom’s television.

Castaway Cay Shopping (Photo by Derek Burgan)

To Do Some Disney Cruise Line Shopping: I have a confession. I love to shop, especially for anything Disney! Castaway Cay has a few shops selling exclusive merchandise that you can only find on the island! I already have a list of items in mind that I want to purchase. To see what the island has to offer, check out this Castaway Cay Merchandise Report. The Disney Cruise Line ships also offer a number of stores on board that are tax and duty free! I personally can’t wait to add some Disney Cruise Line plush and pins to my collection. Looking for something a little more refined? There is Disney Cruise Line jewelry, clothing, collectibles, and I’ve had my eye on those Disney Cruise Line Dooney and Bourke bags for years. This Disney World Regular may have a have to plan for a bigger souvenir budget.

Route of 4-Night Bahamian Cruise on the Disney Dream

To Visit New Places with the Disney Touch: Here’s my problem. I enjoy traveling and there are many places I would like to go, but Disney World has me spoiled. Other vacations, resorts, and theme parks pale in comparison when it comes to the quality, service, and extras that Disney provides; but with a Disney Cruise, I can visit new places but still with the Disney touch. So where to first? Well, Disney Cruise Line seems to go pretty much everywhere and their itineraries change and improve each year. For 2015, the Disney Cruise Line is taking guests to Alaska, the Caribbean, Mexico, the Bahamas, the California Cost, Europe, Hawaii, California, the Panama Canal, and even on Transatlantic Cruises!

To Watch a Movie Aboard Ship: Who doesn’t love going to the movies? How about going to the movies on your Disney Cruise Line ship? Yes, the Disney Cruise Line ships have theaters showing first-run films. This means you can still catch the brand new film that just debuted, even while you’re at sea!

Atrium of the Disney Fantasy (Photo by Len Testa)

To Party like a Pirate: Disney Cruise Line offers deck parties to celebrate your venture at sea. There’s a Sail-Away Celebration for Embarkation Day with music, dancing, and characters; but I personally am excited for Pirate Night! Guests are encouraged to dress like pirates and partake in a pirate dinner and then head to the deck for a party, characters, and possibly an appearance from Captain Jack Sparrow? One of the coolest things about Pirate Night is that the ship shoots off fireworks! It’s a first for the cruising industry; and while I love Disney World’s Wishes, seeing fireworks on a ship in the middle of the ocean sounds like a whole new level of amazing.

The Magical Touches Aboard Ship: One of my favorite things about Disney World is all the little touches and details, and this Disney World Regular is eager to find how Disney has incorporated these extras onboard their ships. I’ve heard about Enchanted Artwork which is hanging artwork throughout the ship that magically comes to life! There’s also Hidden Mickeys to discover, incredible chandeliers hanging in the atrium, and Virtual Portholes. I’m really excited about this extra as they allow guests with inside staterooms to still have a view of the ocean. A camera connected to these special portholes provides views of the sea, plus an appearance or two from a Disney character. How cool is that?

So those are just a few reasons why this Disney World Regular wants to go on a Disney Cruise. Have I convinced you to take to the high seas too? Or, if you are already an avid Disney Cruise Line fan, do you have any suggestions for other Disney Cruise Line Rookies?

Castaway Club Gold and Platinum members can book via phone starting tomorrow, March 25. The general public can book online and by phone on the 26th. Continuing from today’s Disney Cruise Line announcements about the Disney Magic, we have more information about the Wonder’s itineraries for next summer. The Wonder will reposition through the Panama Canal from […]

Castaway Club Gold and Platinum members can book via phone starting tomorrow, March 25. The general public can book online and by phone on the 26th. Disney Cruise Line announced Summer 2016 itineraries this morning. There are very few surprises, though the Eastbound trans-Atlantic cruise and British Isles cruises are new itineraries for Disney. Disney Magic […]

Castaway Club Gold and Platinum members can book via phone starting tomorrow, March 25. The general public can book online and by phone on the 26th.

Disney Cruise Line announced Summer 2016 itineraries this morning. There are very few surprises, though the Eastbound trans-Atlantic cruise and British Isles cruises are new itineraries for Disney.

Disney Magic

Most of the news today concerns the Disney Magic, which will be doing Northern European and Mediterranean cruise summer of 2016. The 12-night British Isles cruise is a new itinerary for Disney Cruise Line.

The 14 night Eastbound repositioning cruise leaves Port Canaveral May 15, 2016 with the following ports and 9 nights at sea: Boston; Sydney (Nova Scotia), Canada; Dublin; Liverpool; Dover. Other than Dover, each of these is a brand new port for DCL.

From May through August 2016, the Disney Wonder will return to Alaska, sailing from Vancouver, Canada to Tracy Arm, Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan. Click here for more information on the Wonder’s 2016 summer sailings.

In 2016, the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy will sail from Port Canaveral to the Bahamas and Caribbean on a variety of itineraries. Most of these cruises include a stop at Disney Castaway Cay.

For more information, or to book, contact your travel agent or Disney Cruise Line.

If you’re like many Disney Cruise Line (DCL) guests, you’ve booked your cruise at least in part because of the ship’s itinerary. You’re excited to explore the ports of call and see the cultures of new lands. Some folks will “wing it” at the ports, hopping off the ship without a specific plan and going […]

If you’re like many Disney Cruise Line (DCL) guests, you’ve booked your cruise at least in part because of the ship’s itinerary. You’re excited to explore the ports of call and see the cultures of new lands.

Some folks will “wing it” at the ports, hopping off the ship without a specific plan and going wherever the mood takes them. But most guests will disembark at port with a pre-planned, reserved activity – an excursion or, in Disney parlance, a Port Adventure. There are two ways to arrange excursions, on your own or through Disney. Here are the advantages to each method.

Port excursions expose you to new perspectives.

BOOKING PORT EXCURSIONS THROUGH DISNEY

Convenience of selection. To book a Port Adventure through Disney, just head over to the DCL website. For each port you’ll see a menu of options, it’s a one stop spot for information including activity descriptions, age/height/weight restrictions, costs, and related data. If you find an excursion appealing, you can have it booked with just a few clicks.

Convenience of billing. When you book your excursion through Disney, the fee appears on your stateroom bill, which you can pay using any of the acceptable DCL methods, in US dollars, British pounds, or in Euros. As an added bonus, you don’t pay a deposit and you don’t pay until you sail. If you’re booking an excursion in another country on your own, you may have to pay a large deposit, you may have to pay in another currency, or you may be limited to use of a particular credit card or other form of payment. And remember if you’re using Disney Gift Cards as a payment method on the ship, you may be able to have an effective 5% discount if you’ve purchased your gift cards through Target, or other discounts when purchasing through Sam’s Club, Costco, or another retailer.

Safety. Of course, whenever you’re on a port excursion, you’ll want to exercise and abundance of caution, but if you book a Disney-vetted excursion, you know that they’ve done some of the work for you. Disney verifies that the excursions they offer are via legitimate businesses. They make sure that the transportation used is safe and that the guides are accountable for your whereabouts. If you book an excursion on your own, the onus is on you to do the research.

Communication with the ship. When you book an excursion through Disney, they know where you are. If something unforeseen happens, they have representative who can contact your group and vice versa. If you book your excursion on your own, cast members on the ship will likely have no idea where you are. And they’re not going to wait for you if you don’t arrive back at the dock prior to sail-away time.

Language issues. Booking your excursion through Disney means that the transaction will take place in English. If you’re booking an excursion on your own for a port in another country, the website or phone representative may use another language.

Cancellation policies. Disney Cruise Line’s Port Adventure cancellation policy is clearly stated on their website. If you book on your own, you may be subject to an entirely different set of policies, which may or may not be clearly outlined, or fair.

BOOKING PORT EXCURSIONS ON YOUR OWN

Price. Many guests have found that similar excursions to Disney’s can be booked independently at a lesser cost. Additionally, when booking on your own, you’ll be able to construct an excursion at a budget or luxury level that specifically suits your needs.

More options. While Disney offers a range of excursions at each port, the list of options is certainly finite. If you book on your own, there’s no limit to the number of choices you might have.

Customization. When booking on your own, you can often work with a vendor to construct an excursion custom tailored to your interests or hobbies. You might be able to combine visits to two disparate sites in one excursion. You might be able to skip part of a standard tour that doesn’t interest you. You might be able to linger longer at a favorite venue. Or you might be able to arrange for transportation which accommodates a medical need, such as wheelchair use.

Booking window. On the DCL website, your ability to access excursion booking is based on your Castaway Club status. A first-time cruiser booking excursions through Disney might be locked out of some popular activities because they’ve become fully booked before they had access. When booking excursions on your own, you’re not subject to any waiting period. You can take a crack at booking whenever you want.

How do you prefer to book your port excursions, on your own or through Disney? Do you have any other pros or cons to a particular booking method? Have you found any helpful resources when looking for independent excursions? Let us know in the comments below. And to find more information about DCL, be sure to take a look at the 2015 Unofficial Guide to Disney Cruise Line.

I am often asked for tips or helpful hints for an upcoming cruise on Disney Cruise Line, and there’s no short answer to that! I’ve learned a lot of helpful things over the years both from obsessive reading about Disney cruises and experiencing Disney cruises (the latter being the most fun of course). I thought […]

I am often asked for tips or helpful hints for an upcoming cruise on Disney Cruise Line, and there’s no short answer to that! I’ve learned a lot of helpful things over the years both from obsessive reading about Disney cruises and experiencing Disney cruises (the latter being the most fun of course). I thought I’d share my 10 favorite tips. Share yours in the comments!

1. Rebook Onboard– It may sound a little funny spending time on your current vacation planning the next one, but do it. If you think you will ever cruise again on Disney, stop by the booking desk and book another one. Even if you have no idea when or where you want to cruise again, book something. Currently you will save 10% on the published fare (a few blacked out dates notwithstanding), you will get 50% off your deposit on cruises of 7-nights or longer, and you will get a nice onboard credit for your new booking. If you book something and change the dates, those benefits will move to the next date as long as that date is within 24 months of booking. You can move the dates as many times as you need to in those 24 months! So rebook onboard! It’s worth a few minutes of your time. (But, don’t wait until the last night of the cruise to rebook. The desk will be VERY busy at that time!)

2. Palo and Remy are Not Full – They’re not! Even if it said so when you tried to book them online. Disney holds back several reservations (as much as half) so that guests can book them onboard on embarkation day. When you check in, there will be a location listed for dining changes in your Personal Navigator. Go there as soon as you board. Don’t wait until the time listed, because it usually opens much earlier. Hopefully you can snag the exact time you wanted at these adult-only restaurants. Go do this first! Lunch can wait! At least a few minutes.3. Cheap Upgrades – It’s possible to get steeply discounted upgrades on your Disney cruise. How you ask? By inquiring when you get to the terminal to check in! If you get to the terminal early enough, and if your sailing isn’t full, there may be some upgrades available. You can get some idea of how full your sailing is by checking online a few days before you leave to see how many categories are still available. These upgrades are usually a small percentage of what you would pay if you upgraded before the day of sailing. The supervisor’s desk in the terminal is the place to check! There are many times that there are absolutely no upgrades available, so I recommend you don’t ever book a category that you won’t be happy in. But it’s always worth a shot!4. Pack Judiciously - The staterooms on a Disney cruise ship are bigger than standard rooms on most other lines, but they are still fairly modest compared to your average hotel. Pack wisely. Lay out everything you think you need and then reduce it by half. You really don’t need as much as you think you do, and if you run low there are washers and dryers onboard (or Disney will do you laundry for a pretty penny). Make sure you pack medications and anything else you may need that first day in your carry-on bag just in case your luggage gets delayed somewhere.5. Bring a Souvenir to Get Signed – There’s an added bonus to saving all that room in your suitcase – more room for souvenirs! And one of the coolest souvenirs around will require you to bring something with you. At the beginning of the cruise you can drop an item (2 per stateroom) and some markers off at guest services to be autographed by the wonderful characters onboard. You can choose Mickey and friends or princesses. By the end of your cruise the item(s) will appear in your stateroom covered in autographs! Typical items that work well are pillowcases, t-shirts, canvas bags, and photo mats. Fabric markers are best for fabric items! It’s a great and unique keepsake. Imagine how long you’d have to wait in line for all those autographs at Walt Disney World!

6. BYOB – For someone who does not drink alcohol, I realize I bring up this tip a lot! Disney Cruise Line is one of the only lines that lets you carry on alcohol without any real restrictions. The only restriction is that it must fit in your carry-on and not be packed in your checked luggage. For those of you that like to imbibe, bringing your own alcohol can save you some serious money onboard!

7. Pay Attention to Your First Navigator – That first Personal Navigator they hand you when you check in has lots of important information. If you are interested in seeing Anna and Elsa, the Navigator will tell you where and when to pick up tickets. A meet and greet with several princesses? Same place. If you are interested in a mixology class or tasting of some kind, they will be listed in that first Navigator and it will tell you where to pick up tickets. During special sailings like the Very Merrytime cruises during the holidays, Disney may have extra activities like gingerbread-house building which you will need tickets for. The Navigator will tell you where and when to get those tickets. There are not enough tickets for everyone onboard for these activities so make sure you take care of getting them as soon as you can!8. The Answer to Your Food Questions is “Yes” – Okay, that’s not really true, but your servers don’t say no very often when it comes to food. They are going to bend over backwards to accommodate you. If you are eyeing the filet mignon but you don’t want to go anywhere near an orange potato? Yes, I know they’re called sweet potatoes, but that doesn’t make them taste better. Ask for the lovely potatoes au gratin that come with the pork chop! It’s true, you may end up with the pork chop in addition to those potatoes, but that’s probably not a bad thing? Can’t decide between desserts? Well get them both of course! Would you like a side of lobster with your lobster? Do it.9. Mickey Bars are Onboard – Mickey bars! They’re everywhere!! Well, maybe not everywhere, but more places than you’ll realize! Mickey bars are not on the (adult) menus in the main dining rooms, but they’re always available. Anytime – lunch, dinner, or dare I say it? Breakfast? Mickey bars are also not listed on the room service menu, but trust me, they’re available! And we have learned that room service often doesn’t like to send just one Mickey bar. They must take great joy in throwing in a bonus bar, and we therefore take great joy in eating them.10. Fish Extenders – Fish Extender gift exchanges with your fellow guests have become quite popular over the years. These exchanges are set up by individual cruisers before they ever set sell. Guests that sign up agree to give a small gift to everyone on their list and will receive a gift from everyone on their list. So what the heck does it have to do with a fish? Outside the stateroom doors there is a metal fixture where your stateroom host will sometimes leave things like Palo confirmations for you. On the classic ships they are all shaped like fish, on the Dream and Fantasy there are fish as well as starfish. Guest participating in the exchange will hang a bag or organizer of some kind off of their fish or starfish so gifts can be left there. Hence the name! The bags “extend” the fish. The gifts range from small bags of candy to elaborate homemade items. The thought is (supposed to be) what counts! If you are interested in joining, you can usually find your group on Facebook by searching your ship name and sail date. Join in if it sounds like fun to you!
So what are your favorite tips? I’d love to hear!

Adding a beach day to your Disney vacation? Cocoa Beach bills itself as Orlando’s closest beach, but in reality, it’s just one municipality in two dazzling stretches of coast-line. There are plenty of other beaches within a 60-90 minute drive-time of Disney World. How to choose, besides just getting in the car and pointing it […]

Adding a beach day to your Disney vacation? Cocoa Beach bills itself as Orlando’s closest beach, but in reality, it’s just one municipality in two dazzling stretches of coast-line. There are plenty of other beaches within a 60-90 minute drive-time of Disney World. How to choose, besides just getting in the car and pointing it east or west?

My family and I took on the arduous task of exploring the best Space Coast beaches, all so that you can choose the right beach for your family! For each one, we’ll look at a few factors that might play into your choice: like convenience, facilities, and quality of the beach. For the purposes of this article, we’re keeping the drive from the Disney area to under 90 minutes. We’re going to start in the south, at Satellite Beach, and work our way north towards Port Canaveral, in Cape Canaveral.

A quiet shoreline in Satellite Beach. You won’t find this in Cocoa Beach.

Peace and Quiet in Satellite Beach: For true peace and quiet, drive south to Satellite Beach. You’ll find a 50s-era beach town along A1A, just south of the Pineda Causeway and Patrick Air Force Base, home to charming houses, inoffensive low-rise condos, and some basic shopping and dining. The quiet beaches and tropical dunes are the draw to Satellite Beach. Public access beaches with free parking, a basic shower, and a boardwalk over the dune are pretty easy to find. There are also a few public parks, some with restroom facilities. Interestingly, even the bare-bones public parks fill up, while public access lots just a few hundred feet away sit empty. Try public access unless you’re staying all day and want restrooms close at hand.

Hightower Beach Park (815 S. A1A): Accessible dune crossing, restrooms, nature walk with picnic pavilion and benches to take in the views. Satellite Beach happens to have a more tropical environment than neighboring communities, so the walk through the dune offers a rich variety of coastal plant life. A slightly wider beach than Grant and Berkeley, but not a massive beach by any means.

Satellite Beach offers a few casual dining choices, including Goombay’s, a seafood restaurant, Bizzarro’s, a New York-style pizza restaurant that is a Space Coast institution, and a Publix if you’d like to put together a picnic from the deli. There’s also some fast food like Dunkin’ Donuts along A1A.

Satellite Beach typically does not offer full-time lifeguard stands, so swimming is at your own risk.

To get to Satellite Beach from Orlando: Take SR 528 east to I-95 and head south to Pineda Causeway (exit 188). Take Pineda Causeway east about 10 miles to A1A, turn right. You’ll see the beach access begin on your left-hand side.

Patrick Air Force Base’s All-Natural Beaches: The beaches of Patrick Air Force Base are local favorites along the Space Coast. This broad stretch of coastline is hotel and condo-free, thanks to the air force base, and is extremely popular with surfers. There are five beach parking areas along A1A, and parking spots can fill up in summer and on good surfing days. The first beach, Pineda Beach, is directly north of Satellite Beach and parking fills up rapidly, even with more plentiful parking just to the south.

Hangars Beach, Blockhouse Beach, and Tables Beach, from south to north, have the largest parking areas.

Recommended Beaches:

Hangars Beach: Observation deck, wheelchair-accessible dune crossover, outdoor shower. RV parking spaces. Hangars Beach’s namesake, the airstrip and airplane hangers of the air force base, are right across A1A from the parking lot. If you love aircraft, this is an awesome beach. On our last visit, some sort of military drill was going on that involved very large cargo planes doing touch-and-go landings. The planes approach from just north of Hangars Beach, giving bathers quite a view.

Blockhouse Beach: Wheelchair-accessible dune crossover, outdoor shower. At the north end you’ll find The Beach House, a restaurant, bar, and beach rental location open to the public.

Tables Beach: Wheelchair-accessible dune crossover, outdoor shower. A massive parking lot means you should have good luck finding a spot, plus a large picnic pavilion if you’ve packed a lunch.

Just north of the air force base, you’ll find some local casual eateries with loyal followings, including Taco City and The Cape Codder, plus upscale dining at The Fat Snook.

Patrick Air Force Base typically does not offer lifeguard stands, so swimming is at your own risk.

To get to Patrick Air Force Base from Orlando, follow the directions to Pineda Causeway and A1A, then turn left to go north. The beaches will begin on your right-hand side immediately.

Heading out for some light boogie-boarding at Osceola Lane in Cocoa Beach.

Cocoa Beach Convenience: Just north of Patrick, the condos and hotels take over. You’re entering Cocoa Beach, and free beach parking is hard to find here. There are public access signs and dune crossings, but not a lot of parking away from downtown or the central area around SR 520. Any beach parking you do find will be metered, at $1.50 an hour in most spots.

If you’re going to stay all day and want to do some shopping and dining in Cocoa Beach’s small, but interesting, downtown, do the math and see how much the metered lots will cost you. There are some guys in lawn chairs taking $10 for all-day parking in vacant lots, although we suspect that goes up in high season.

Osceola Lane: Accessible dune crossing, shower. A good example of Cocoa Beach public access, this has a small metered parking area and a basic dune crossing. The beach is broad, with nice sand, and you might run into a surfing school in session. It’s close to 520, to cut down on long drives up and down A1A, but inexpensive, making this a good couple-hour beach, if not an all-day beach. You’ll find similar offerings as you continue up Ocean Beach Boulevard (Ridgewood Avenue once you cross into Cape Canaveral).

Alan Shepard Park (SR 520 at Ocean Beach Boulevard): Accessible dune crossing, beach rentals, restrooms, picnic facilities, food vendors (when available), full-time lifeguards. Located at the end of 520 and behind Ron Jon’s Surf Shop, you’ll find $10 for all day parking. This offers access not just to the beach and facilities, but also the shopping district around it, including Ron Jon’s, Starbucks, Cocoa Beach Surf Company, and numerous boutiques and restaurants. You’re also within striking distance of the Cocoa Beach Pier, if you’d like to take a walk down the beach.

To get to Cocoa Beach from Orlando, take SR 528 to I-95 southbound, then take SR 520 east to Cocoa Beach. Or follow 528 to Port Canaveral, then take A1A south.

Close to Port Canaveral, the broad Cape Canaveral beaches are a good choice for quick visits. They’re also great for watching cruise ship departures.

Cape Canaveral: Well, it’s Close and it’s Free. Cape Canaveral sits between Port Canaveral and Cocoa Beach. The city offers a lot of public access — some of it with free parking, some of it without. To find the beach, which retreats from A1A midway from Cocoa Beach, you can drive up Ridgewood Avenue, pausing at each cross-street to peek down and see if there is any parking at the end of the road.

Cape Canaveral’s beaches are wide thanks to a beach rehabilitation project undertaken some years ago. They are also grayish in color and tend to have tiny crushed shells mixed into the sand. That’s thanks to the deep-sea ocean floor that was dredged up and pumped onshore to create beach.

If you have a very limited amount of time to enjoy some beach, by all means visit Cape Canaveral. But if you can spend the time to drive south and dig your toes into some real beach sand, you should.

Cape Canaveral, like Cocoa Beach, is very tourist-oriented so there’s plenty of dining, from chains to local eateries like Preacher Bar, Florida Beer Company, and the variety of seafood and waterfront dining at The Cove in Port Canaveral.

Recommended Public Access:

Simple rules at the public beach access on Johnson Ave. in Cape Canaveral.

Johnson Avenue and Ridgewood Ave.: Accessible dune crossover, shower, about six parking spaces. Although not particularly different from any other public access beach spots in Cape Canaveral, Johnson is one that does offer parking (not all of them do) and is a good example of the broad beach.

Recommended City Park:

Cherie Down Park (8330 Ridgewood Avenue): Accessible dune crossover, restrooms, picnic pavilion, showers. A little hidden, Cherie Down Park is at the north end of Cape Canaveral, where Washington Ave. meets Ridgewood Ave. It’s the only spot in Cape Canaveral with a seasonal lifeguard stand.

To get to Cape Canaveral from Orlando, take SR 528 to Port Canaveral, and exit onto A1A south.

When visiting any beach, keep in mind that just like at the theme parks, arriving early is key, especially in the summertime and at Spring Break! Cocoa Beach is also host to several large surfing events during the year, so keep on top of their events calendar as well.

Of course I don’t have to remind you to wear sunblock, but since I got a sunburn in the making of this article, wear sunblock! And don’t forget — never, ever walk on the fragile sand dunes. You could be disturbing endangered species of all kinds, including sea turtle nests, to say nothing of breaking down the coastline’s first defense against storm surges.

For the past ten years, my daughters have spent their summers at an idyllic sleep-away camp for girls in the central lakes region of Maine. Think Camp Inch from The Parent Trap and you’re pretty much in the right ballpark. The girls have now aged out of their camp and won’t be able to return. […]

For the past ten years, my daughters have spent their summers at an idyllic sleep-away camp for girls in the central lakes region of Maine. Think Camp Inch from The Parent Trap and you’re pretty much in the right ballpark. The girls have now aged out of their camp and won’t be able to return. Instead, this summer we’re heading out to sea for a bunch of Disney cruising.

Camp Inch, the classic summer camp experience. @Disney

While they are, of course, exited for new adventures and grateful to be able to cruise, they are also more than a bit melancholy about leaving their beloved camp experience behind. In an effort to boost their spirits, I challenged them to come up with all the ways in which a Disney Cruise is just like summer camp. Below is a list of eight of their suggestions.

1. It’s a great place to meet new friends.

One of the best parts of camp for my daughters is that they got to spend time with similarly aged girls from all over the country. They got to find out what they all had in common, as well as learn from each other’s differences. They shared their music preferences, school traditions, fashion choices, hobbies, and silly stories, and made fast friends with people they might not otherwise have encountered. The same thing happens on a Disney cruise, particularly cruises of seven nights or longer. When visiting the onboard Vibe teen club, they’ll again meet kids from a variety of home locales. The convivial atmosphere and cheerful guidance of the kids’ club staff will have them chatting and in no time. And also like camp, the condensed timeframe and physical proximity to a core group of peers speeds up the bonding process. They’ll likely leave the ship with a lengthy list of new Facebook friends, and probably more than one real friend as well. As an added bonus, mom and dad won’t be around when they’re in the kids’ club, just like we weren’t a camp. They’ll get to be themselves, unfiltered.

2. The staff comes from all over the world.

During the girls’ tenure at camp, they loved bonding with their counsellors, recruited from agencies all over the UK, New Zealand, Australia, and much of Europe. Just like at camp, the staff on Disney Cruise Line come from all over the world. When interacting with the many international cast members, the girls will gain insight into areas of cultural commonality and difference. They’re looking forward to expanding their knowledge of the world, as well as to hearing some lovely international accents.

3. There are a variety of activities planned throughout the day.

One of the defining characteristics of a general summer camp is the varied activity offerings. On any given day they might be able to experience an art class, a cooking class, swimming, group games, sports, and more. The cruise ship experience is nearly identical to camp in this regard. A quick glance at the daily print or online Personal Navigator shows that every day you can learn a craft, take an exercise class, play games, or participate in any of several dozen activities. There’s loads of variety and barely any opportunity to get bored, unless that’s what you want to do.

Swim at camp, or swim on the ship

4. There is entertainment in the evenings.

At my girls’ camp, once a week or so, they brought in special evening entertainment, often a magician, a hypnotist, or a musical act. And guess what? That sort of thing happens every night on a Disney cruise. Each evening you have the opportunity to see a show, hear live music, or view other family friendly entertainment. On recent cruises, I’ve seen a balloon artist, a ventriloquist, singers, and hypnotists. The girls are excited to see what entertainment their cruise will have in store.

5. You can put on a show.

In addition to viewing entertainment, my girls are musicians and performers in their own right and love the experience of putting on a play or singing at camp. Even the youngest guests on a Disney cruise are invited to be part of the show, if that’s something they’re interested in doing. For example, on most longer sailings kids in the Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab age groups may participate in a simple on-stage singalong show called “Friendship Rocks.” Older kids can participate in the frequent karaoke opportunities and occasional guest-participation talent shows. My girls are excited to perform in one of the ship’s lounges.

There’s plenty of entertainment in both venues.

6. There are field trips.

At camp, there are weekly outings, things like seeing a minor league baseball game, hiking in the nearby state park, or visiting a historical site. On a cruise, those sorts of activities are called excursions or Port Adventures, and they happen every day you’re in port. And even better than camp, you get to choose which off-site activities you do, they’re not preassigned. The girls are getting a big say in which excursions our family experiences this summer, which is making them very happy.

7. You have less access to technology.

My daughters have a typical teen addiction to technology. One of my favorite parts of their camp experience was that they had a strict no-tech policy: no cell phones, no email, no computers. Just them and their imaginations and the great outdoors. A lack of tech tools goes a long way toward facilitating new friendships and making the activity options seem more appealing. While the Disney ships aren’t strictly tech-free, there are video games and movies readily available, Internet access is much more difficult to come by. I likely will be purchasing an Internet package to keep up with some business at home, but the price is prohibitive enough that I won’t buy enough access to let the girls access the web and social media at will. They’ll have to keep busy and be social with actual physical people, without the crutch of Instagram or Snapchat.

The scenery is spectacular.

8. You get to gaze out at the water at night.

At camp, you can sit on the shore and gaze out at the lake and stars in the evening, contemplating the mysteries of life and dreaming of the future. Substitute “deck” for “shore” and “ocean” for “lake,” and the cruise becomes exactly like camp.

After hearing my daughters’ list of camp and cruise similarities, I found myself even more excited to set sail. For grown-ups on a Disney cruise, you get all the awesome of a summer camp experience, plus there are decidedly non-camp-like cocktails. Nothing finer!

Sailing aboard a Disney Cruise offers an ocean of opportunity to indulge. There are so many wonderful experiences waiting for you to enjoy, especially on 7 night or longer sailings. A series of adult beverage seminars is one of the more popular experiences offered on longer sailings. These seminars are a fantastic way to explore […]

Sailing aboard a Disney Cruise offers an ocean of opportunity to indulge. There are so many wonderful experiences waiting for you to enjoy, especially on 7 night or longer sailings. A series of adult beverage seminars is one of the more popular experiences offered on longer sailings. These seminars are a fantastic way to explore new tastes or learn more about a favorite beverage. On my recent cruise aboard the Disney Magic I finally decided to experience a beverage seminar for myself. After experiencing the seminar, I can safely say it is a good value and I am here to tell you why.

My husband and I decided to sign up for the Mixology 101 seminar. We did so on embarkation day while waiting for the staterooms to be ready. There were about 5 other beverage seminars from which to choose, including one all about whisky as well as a tequila and margarita seminar offered during our day in Cozumel. The prices range from $25 – $40 depending on the subject matter of the seminar. We opted for Mixology 101 because it was offered during a day at sea and seemed like a good value at $25.

Our seminar began in the exquisite night time venue of Keys. At night this sophisticated lounge is filled with live jazz music and the sounds of glasses being clinked in a toast as guests sip on high class cocktails. A host greeted each of us in attendance and sat us in comfortable seating arrangements based on our party size. A few necessary tools and glasses had already been prepared and set out for each of us.

Fresh fruit filled a cocktail glass, already enticing us. A brown liquor pooled in a small shot glass. I raised the glass to my nose and inhaled a sweet, smoky scent. I couldn’t decipher for certain if it was cognac or perhaps a dark rum. I guessed I’d have to wait to find out.

A champagne flute also waited, half full with sparkling wine, pale and golden. Finally, a slender, sleek shot glass looked to offer cool refreshment as ice chilled the tangerine colored juice held within. It all looked so tempting and I could tell that my fellow mixology classmates were struggling as much as I was, having to hold back from sipping any of the liquids waiting in front of us.

Thankfully our class began quickly. Our mixologist hailed from Thailand and it became evident pretty quickly that he is passionate about concocting new tastes, especially using fresh fruit and unique liquors. Knowing his audience he offered us the invitation to begin enjoying the chilled, tropical tangerine colored beverage in front of us. My first sip presented sweet, smooth flavor; there had to be rum in there. Sure enough it was revealed that this fruity drink was made with Malibu Coconut Flavored Rum, Veev Vodka, and a blend of passion fruit and citrus fruit juices. It was also revealed (though I knew this already) that Malibu Coconut Flavored Rum is actually made in Canada!

Next it was time to start mixing, though we started off easy. The champagne flute in front of us contained sparkling wine, Prosecco in fact. We each took a sip of this light, slightly dry wine to get a taste of the Prosecco before the mixing magic took place. Prosecco is a refreshing sparkling wine from Italy. Many people do not realize that just because it sparkles doesn’t make it champagne. The only sparkling wine that is in fact champagne is when it is made in Champagne, France and in accordance to exacting standards. (OK, lesson over; let’s get back to Mixology class).

After our “before taste” we were instructed to pour in some raspberry puree and St. Germain liquor. The flute was now filled with a deep, luscious burgundy color. We each raised our glasses and tasted our new cocktail. As it first hit my tongue the flavors were sweet thanks to the elderflower flavored St. Germain liqueur (which I love) as well as the slightly thick raspberry puree. Then a crisp tart note lingered on my palate from the Prosecco.

Already the class was off to a great start, but now it was time to really put us to work. Our mixologist master explained the art of muddling fresh ingredients to make a supreme cocktail. Muddle too hard and you’ll crush the ingredients, leading to it overpowering the drink. Muddle too lightly and the flavors won’t be released. “Right, no pressure” I thought nervously. I began to muddle the fresh strawberries and limes in the glass before me. I was quickly, but kindly told that I was not muddling the fruit enough (what can I say, I’m a lover, not a fighter). After working the fruit a little better and releasing more of the fresh juices I poured in the dark liquid I had wondered about earlier. Come to find out it was Myer’s Dark Rum. To finish off the cocktail we poured in ice, club soda, and agave syrup. The fresh fruit was just sweet enough, but lighter than sugary juice, allowing the warm flavors of the dark rum to shine through.

For those keeping score, at this point we were up to three drinks so far! Granted the first drink was a smaller sample, but the two that followed were full servings. So far the $25 was already proving to be worth it. We took a brief break to learn about some of the different tools of the trade. I’ve always found cocktail shakers, strainers, and jiggers to be visually appealing. Our mixologist explained the importance of not shaking a drink, especially a martini, too much. Doing so can “bruise” the vodka or gin, thus breaking down the flavors. This is especially true for gin, with its herbal fragrance and flavors.

Speaking of martinis, we next learned how fun layering liqueurs can be. The one downfall of the class is that we did not get the chance to make the last two beverages ourselves. I would have liked the chance to practice my layering skills. As we learned about pouring the top layer of a cocktail slowly on the side of the glass so it settles on top, a server came by with the finished product. We each receive a mini martini, a French martini in fact. Pineapple juice and Kettle One vodka were mixed for the bottom layer, then dark and sweet Chambord (a French liquer) rested on top. The French martini was quite pretty and would make a great party cocktail.

After this fourth round of drinks (albeit a smaller round) the mood of the room was decidedly mellow and pleasant. Each of us enjoying a week long vacation, in a room with no kids, enjoying some fine adult beverages, learning some new party skills; we certainly were a happy bunch. We enjoyed a few moments of conversation before it was time for our final lesson.

The layering continued. Slender shot glasses were filled with Patron XO Cafe (coffee flavored tequila). My husband, who loves tequila but hates coffee, suddenly became apprehensive. Then a layer of luscious, creamy Bailey’s rested on top, creating a shot that resembled another favorite beverage. The shot was called “Baby Guinness.” With the liquid courage already consumed, my husband decided to go ahead and give it a try. Our entire class raised their glasses together and toast to a fun, enjoyable class together. Glasses clinked, and bottoms up! The “Baby Guinness” proved to be a hit.

The Mixology 101 class packed five cocktails and fun lessons into just under an hour. For the price it was a good value and we certainly felt quite good by the end of the class. It also inspired us to try some new tastes throughout the rest of the cruise. It proved to be a great use of our time during a relaxing day at sea and a good use of our money as well. If you’re headed on a 7 night or longer Disney Cruise, I highly recommend considering one of the adult beverage seminars, especially Mixology 101.

You can learn more about other beverage and cooking seminars here. Cheers!